Wool Clothing Care Guide

What is wool?

Wool is a fabric made from the hair of certain mammals, notably sheep, goats, rabbits, and camels—usually not all at the same time. We’re not out here making Frankenwool. Not yet, anyway.

What are the different types of wool?

Within your classic wool genres—sheep’s wool, goat’s wool etc., there are different types of those particular wool fabrics. Different ways of preparing the wool or combining it with other materials. For example…

Wool blend

Sometimes, woollen items need different properties depending on what you want from them. In order to acquire those properties, wool fibres are blended with other materials to create a sort of fibre chimera. A chimerial material, if you will. You won’t? Fair enough.

Nylon lends a bit of stretch and give to a jumper that could otherwise be a bit unforgiving. Cotton brings skin-comfort and water-resistance, silk brings sheen, linen brings lightness. It’s an alchemy and an artform, really, and can render results that give an even higher quality item than 100% wool. Do not fear the wool blend, for there is no need for trepidation.

Mohair

Mohair is a special kind of wool made from the coat of the Angora goat. It’s unique in that it looks coarse but is soft to the touch, and it possesses a distinctive sheen that other wools simply don’t have. You know that famous MTV: Unplugged set Nirvana did, and Kurt Cobain was wearing that cardigan that has become semi-synonymous with him in the thirty years since his death? Mohair.

How To Care For Mohair

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How to wash wool clothes?

Wool likes to be treated delicately. It needs a gentle little hug, not a big old chest bump. The main reason for this is that it will shrink given half a chance, so don’t give it an excuse. Give it an inch, it’ll take… Well, a couple of millimetres.

Can you hand wash wool?

You absolutely can hand wash wool, yes. Firstly, though, note that wool is naturally antibiotic (how class is that?) and so it doesn't need to be washed too often. When the time to wash your wool does arrive, though, simply fill a tub with tepid or even cold water, a little bit of wool-safe detergent, pop your wool in and give it a little swish around, then let it soak for ten minutes. Rinse it, let it dry naturally, and Roberto’s your papa’s fratello.

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Can you put wool clothes in the washing machine?

You can! You just need to make sure you have your machine on the correct setting. Most washing machines have a wool setting, but yours doesn’t, just make sure it’s on a setting of 40 degrees Celsius or below, and that you’re using a wool-safe washing powder or detergent.

Does wool shrink after washing?

On first wash, it may shrink slightly if it hasn’t been pre-washed in the manufacturing process (check the label). Otherwise, it should be fine as long as you’re careful with it and adhere to the following drying tips.

How to dry wool clothes?

Lie your wool flat on a dry towel or a rack, and let it dry naturally. Don’t wring it or scrunch it, because, much like your grandma told you when you were pulling a funny face (if the wind changes), it’ll stay that way. Hanging your wool up to dry on the line or a clothes horse can cause it to stretch since it’s a relatively heavy material, especially when wet.

Can you tumble dry wool?

Certainly wouldn’t recommend it, unless you bought a jumper three sizes too big and you’re trying to shrink it down to size. Easier to keep your receipts, to be honest.